MORE RESOURCES

EMILY GAILUN '08

Start College Unsure of a Major

My first-year, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I took classes in English, math, history and sociology to get a feel for a lot of subjects and see where it led.

Sketch the Lake

I've always loved painting, acrylics, drawing. I paint beach scenes and my parents have sold a couple. I also donated one to a family friend who owns a gallery for a community fundraiser she had. I studied at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City one summer and really enjoyed it and knew I'd continue with it. I now minor in studio art and have done sketches of Seneca Lake.

Play Squash

I've played squash my whole time here, and I've loved every aspect of it. My best friends are on the team, and it's something to look forward to every day.

Go to Career Services

Older friends on the squash team always said that going to Career Services and talking to Bob Murphy was helpful because he gets you on a good path. I was looking for possible internships at Christie's or Sotheby's, and Bob put me in touch with a Hobart alum who works at Christie's.

Get Invited to Join Core 20

Sophomore year, I was asked to join Core 20, a peer facilitator group for William Smith Athletics. Two people from each WS team met regularly to devise ways to make each team stronger. We talked about being leaders and role models by example and then went back to our individual teams to implement our ideas.

Play for Fun and Be a Fan

Although I play varsity squash, my favorite hobbies are sports, too. I love to run, play tennis with friends or go to home games for any of the Hobart and William Smith teams.

Take Art History

After taking a good variety of courses for a year, I started taking art history classes in my second year and realized this was something I wanted to pursue. I made it my major and started working toward a career in it.

Study in Bath, England

I selected William Smith in part because there are so many study abroad programs. I was too nervous to travel abroad in high school; college is my time to explore new things and take advantage of opportunities. As an art history major, I took the Bath, England trip because I could study art history and intern at a gallery.

Intern at Black Swan Arts

I helped run the gallery on a day-to-day basis and also helped with their 50th anniversary fundraiser. Whenever a new artist's exhibit was going up, I'd write their bios. All of the work in this gallery was modern and I could learn to see the controversy behind modern art – why some people like it and some don't. I learned a lot sitting with the patrons in the gallery and asking their opinions. Some of the work was really cool to me and some I found odd. It opened my eyes to different types of artwork.

Work for Career Services

Bob Murphy and Joe Ambrosetti have been very helpful and supportive. I finally met Joe, who I had mostly e-mailed while I was in England and trying to set up my Christie's internship. I really appreciate them and now work there once a week.

Intern at Christie's

When I e-mailed the Hobart alum who works at Christie's, he invited me to come in for a tour, to see an auction and to apply for the internship. He was very helpful and kept in touch through the whole process. I like the business, or competitive, side of art.

Take a Modern Art Class

Andy Warhol's "Car Crash" was sold for $74 million when I was interning at Christie's, and I didn't know why it was so popular. I realized I'd need modern art courses as extra background for the work I want to do in the future and am taking one this semester. Coincidentally, "Car Crash" is one of the works we're studying!